KLDR - Local News

No Quorum Present for 6th Commissioner Meeting to Fill Vacancy

Commissioner Ron Smith was not present for the 6th meeting in a row regarding Interviews and the Appointment for Josephine County Commissioner Position 1.

The meeting commenced at 10:01 a.m. No board business could be conducted due to the lack of quorum, and Commissioner Chris Barnett adjourned the meeting at 10:01 a.m.

Similar meetings with the same agenda are scheduled for December 22nd at 11:30 a.m., and December 23rd, 29th, 30th, 31st, and January 5th at 10 a.m.

All meetings will be held in the BCC Conference Room, and streamed at www.josephinecounty.gov/livestream. Those wishing to attend in person must abide by the clear bag policy.

Posted on 12/19/25 10:31AM by Alex Bauer

Rural Metro Firefighters Conduct Welfare Check amidst Storm Activity

Storm activity last night kept Rural Metro Firefighters and utility crews busy with downed trees and power lines.

Firefighters also conducted a welfare check on a family who could not be reached by phone in the Marcy Loop area.

Engine 7504 from the Wilderville Station encountered a driveway that was blocked by several trees, but had it cleared in no time with chainsaws.

The family was confirmed OK.

Posted on 12/19/25 9:28AM by Alex Bauer

MFD Crews Responded to Vacant Structure Fire

Thursday evening, Medford Fire Department crews responded to a structure fire in the 2200 block of Biddle Road.

Initial reports indicated possible attic involvement. However, fire conditions allowed smoke to travel into the attic space, resulting in smoke visible from the eaves.

Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire. The fire originated in a large common area and involved a mattress and other materials, which produced significant smoke. No injuries were reported.

Due to safety concerns within the structure, the investigation into the cause was limited. Power to the building was shut off. Information gathered on scene indicates the fire was intentionally ignited.

The property has been declared an unsafe building and a public nuisance, and the City is continuing efforts to address unauthorized occupancy and secure the site.

The continued unauthorized use of vacant buildings creates ongoing safety challenges for first responders and the community. Representatives associated with the property were on scene, and recommendations to address these ongoing concerns were provided for follow-up with the property owner.

Posted on 12/19/25 6:01AM by Alex Bauer

Rentec Direct Invests in Southern Oregon Communities during Holiday Season

This holiday season, Rentec Direct has rallied support for Southern Oregon through a mix of longstanding giving programs and new local partnerships.

The Grants Pass-based software company supported the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program for the seventh year, hosted its third annual Toys for Tots toy drive and is sponsoring several community events that benefit children and families across the Rogue Valley.

Rentec Direct has hosted an Angel Tree at its Grants Pass headquarters as part of the Salvation Army’s annual holiday giving program every year since 2019. Earlier this month, Rentec Direct partnered with fellow Grants Pass small business Weekend Beer Company to kick off the holiday season with a community event and its third annual Toys for Tots toy drive.

Rentec Direct was also a proud returning sponsor of Josephine County’s annual Rogue Winterfest, a holiday celebration supporting local mental health organizations for the 23rd year.

In November, Rentec Direct became a sponsor of the Living Room Invitational Golf Tournament, supporting The Children's Museum of Southern Oregon’s new Grants Pass location.

Posted on 12/19/25 5:53AM by Alex Bauer

Mexican Nationals Accused Of Illegally Possessing Firearms, False Statements

Four Mexican nationals unlawfully residing in the United States made their initial appearance yesterday after allegedly making false statements on their application to purchase firearms and for illegally possessing firearms. Samuel Rodrigo Melo Santos, 27, Samuel Amador Ortega, 23, Aldo Melo Amador, 23, and Oscar Amador Ortega, 21, have been charged by criminal complaint with alien in possession of a firearm and making false statements on ATF Form 4473. According to court documents, in July 2025, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigators, as part of a compliance inspection, began reviewing ATF Form 4473, known as the Firearms Transaction Records, of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in

Posted on 12/19/25 5:14AM by Alex Bauer

Downed Power Line Closes Roadway, I.V. Fire District and Pacific Power Responded

On December 19, at 12:20 AM, the Illinois Valley Fire District responded to a road hazard.

A power line had been downed at 6778 Takilma Road, near Dick George Road, in Cave Junction.

The incident necessitated the closure of the roadway. Pacific Power was informed and responded to the situation.

Posted on 12/19/25 4:54AM by Alex Bauer

Trooper Traffic Stop Finds Driver Wanted on Valid Warrant

OSP traffic stop resulted in one arrest just after midnight Thursday morning at the intersection of Old Highway 199 and Fish Hatchery Road. The Trooper stopped a black Mustang and issued a citation to the driver, Alan Paul Davis, 41, and found he had a valid warrant for his arrest, so Mr. Davis was placed into custody and transported to the Josephine County Jail. Davis remained in custody late Thursday facing two charges, a probation violation and a post-prison Supervisor’s sanction.

Posted on 12/18/25 2:46PM by Chuck Benson

Commissioner Smith Continues Boycott of Meetings to Appoint New Commissioner

Commissioner Ron Smith’s boycott of County meetings continued Thursday morning when Commissioner Chris Barnett called the meeting to order for interviews for the vacant Commissioner’s seat and appointment to that seat. The meeting was quickly adjourned officially but continued for informational purposes with Commissioner Barnett quizzing Assistant Legal Counsel Leah Harper about the legal procedures for appointing a Commissioner. Meetings with the same agenda as Thursday morning’s have been announced for Friday at 10 a.m., Monday at 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday at 10 a.m. A second meeting was also scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday for a meeting of the Commissioner and Elected Officials to discuss the Commissioner vacancy. According to the Daily Courier the Elected Officials are not required to attend that meeting. The meeting was cancelled later Thursday. Should Commissioner Smith continue the boycott it appears that at the end of a
30-day period following Commissioner Blech’s resignation, a board of the Elected Officials would be seated to choose a new Commissioner.

Posted on 12/18/25 2:33PM by Chuck Benson

Speed Racing Draws a City Citation

A Grants Pass Police officer cited a driver for speed racing and a driving suspended violation. The stop was conducted Wednesday morning shortly after seven. According to the officer’s narration the driver was observed going north on 7th Street near Evelyn. The officer could hear the defendant’s motor revving and observed the acceleration.The officer’s camera caught the action and the cruiser’s speedometer read over 60 miles per hour. The defendant stated he was going to work at 123 Northeast Beacon Drive was, as a hardship case, allowed to drive between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. plus an afternoon commute between 3:30 and 4:00. The driver stated he had changed jobs.

Posted on 12/18/25 7:44AM by Chuck Benson

Deputy’s Traffic Stop Results in Warrant Arrest

A Josephine County Sheriff’s Deputy’s traffic stop just after 11 Wednesday morning resulted in one warrant arrest. The incident log simply stated the Deputy was out with one vehicle and two subjects with no other information. One of the subjects, identified as Gary Putnam, 54, was found to have an active warrant out of Umatilla County for failure to appear on a DUII charge with bail set at $5,000. Putnam was arrested and lodged in the Josephine County jail and remained in custody Thursday morning.

Posted on 12/18/25 5:32AM by Chuck Benson

U R A Authorizes Development of Midland-Washington Redevelopment Plan

Grants Pass City Council reconvened as the Urban Renewal Agency following their Wednesday night business session. The Agency authorized a contract with a private consulting firm, First Forty Feet, to prepare a mixed-use redevelopment plan in tandem with a commercial market and feasibility study for approximately eight acres of Urban Renewal Agency owned property bounded by Northwest Washington Boulevard, Northwest Midland Avenue and Northeast 6th Street. The Opportunity Plan will be developed over the next nine months and will include two primary elements. The first is a community engagement phase that will involve two public workshops, stakeholder interviews and surveys and will result in citywide input on desired land uses involving agency owned property.The second element is a commercial market analysis led by Leland Consulting group that will assess demographics, economic trends, and real estate conditions for the site. The project will be 100% funded by the Urban Renewal Agency through funds already allocated for this project.

Posted on 12/18/25 4:58AM by Chuck Benson

Fatal Crash Monday Night on Highway 199

Oregon State Police responded to a single vehicle crash on Highway 199 on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:53 p.m.,, near milepost 9, in Josephine County. The preliminary investigation indicated a southbound Ford Econoline, operated by 27-year-old Dakota Mcleod Palmer of Ashland, lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and struck a utility pole. Palmer was transported to an area hospital with reported minor injuries.A passenger of the vehicle, Kyle Dewayne King, 50, of Elgin, Texas was declared deceased after being transported to an area hospital.The highway was not impacted during the on-scene investigation. The cause of the crash is under investigation.Troopers were assisted by the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Rural Metro Fire Department, and ODOT.

Posted on 12/18/25 4:44AM by Chuck Benson